Michael Mancuso/The TimesAllentown High football head coach head coach Jay Graber.

When the Allentown High School football team gave eventual sectional champion Neptune all it could handle before losing 40-33 in overtime in the opening round of the state playoffs last season, it altered the perception of the long-suffering Redbirds’ program in one night.

For one of the rare times in its football-playing history, Allentown had earned respect. With respect, however, comes new expectations from within and outside a program that has flown under the radar for decades.

“That game gave us confidence, gave us motivation and got us into our winter program earlier than ever before,” said Allentown senior quarterback Nick Palladino. “It made all of us realize we have the tools to make this season special.

“After we beat Hopewell Valley in the opener, we got so complacent for the next two weeks, we didn’t practice hard and didn’t play well.

“Last year, we had a lot of guys who liked to win, but didn’t hate to lose. That is something, as seniors, we can’t let happen.”

“We want to go out and show the state that we are here to play,” said senior linebacker Mike McGinnis. “We want to prove that we are not the old Allentown ... we’re not going to be pushed around anymore. Every player on this team has worked hard, and we want to show that.”

After coming out of the gate 1-2 last season — looking more like old Allentown — the Redbirds rattled off five straight wins, including victories over playoff-bound New Egypt and West Windsor-Plainsboro South. They lost in the toe-to-toe slugfest with Neptune and then closed the season with a lackluster 28-14 loss to Northern Burlington.

“We need better consistency,” Palladino admitted. “There were games where we scored 30 points and others where we only scored 10. But having a great attitude and focus will help us get better.”

Practice has taken on added significance for Allentown.

Even in August, when players worked in uppers and shorts, breaches in focus or a lack of hustle resulted in tongue-lashings from coaches or captains and sometimes gassers.

“Nobody is good enough just to roll the balls out and go play,” said third-year head coach Jay Graber. “The kids understand they need a good week of practice and the need to be prepared. We tell the kids all the time there is always something to improve on.”

And Graber admits there is a need for improvement on both sides of the ball, even for a team with as much game experience as Allentown.

The Allentown defense gave up 16 points or fewer in five games last fall.

It gave up 24 and 28 points in two victories.

“We need to stop the run and stop giving up big plays,” Graber said. “We play pretty good teams, and when you make a little mistake against a good team, they usually make you pay. We need to avoid those mistakes.”

Allentown believes a pair of 270-pounders — Bob Brown and Daivone Thomas — will be stouter against the run this season. Three veteran linebackers — McGinnis, Frank Juba and Chi Oriji — will prevent short gains from becoming large ones.

“It’s a matter of reading our keys and paying attention during film sessions and meetings,” Juba said.

“When it comes to reaction, the physical comes after the mental,” Thomas said. “We need to prepare first then play at full speed.”

Offensively, Allentown should be balanced. Palladino is a strong-armed, pinpoint passer who exploded on the scene last year when he threw for 1,425 yards and 15 touchdowns. He threw for 850 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore.

Tailback Norman Williams stepped out of record-setting Ross Scheureman’s shadow last year and accumulated 1,300 total yards as a rusher and receiver. Allentown has speed and experience at the wide receiver spots.

“Hopefully the things you did at the end of last season roll into this one,” Graber said. “Last year is over. It’s a new year, and this is a new team. Every year is different.”

And for Allentown — which is trying for an unprecedented third straight winning season — the new season brings expectations unlike any Redbirds team has seen before.